Was vegetarianism popular in Southeast Asia in bygone centuries?

Question

In modern times the diet has decreased, but wondered if anyone had knowledge of vegetarianism in specific southeast Asian countries or societies prior to the 20th century?

Answer 1

Where exactly do you mean by Southeast Asia?  I understand it to mean countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, etc.  

I don't think vegetarianism was every really existant in that area, I think it was more in India.  Southeast Asia (I believe) was mostly tribal culture, and since most of this area is made of islands, or is near the sea, there would be a lot of fishing, as there is today.  Also, many places were influenced by various other cultures that ate meat, such as the Chinese (although I'm thinking mainly of the Philippines here).  

Vegetarianism (or a mostly vegetable diet) would probably only have occurred in farmers who were to poor to have been able to find meat, although I find even that unlikely since there is always meat to be eaten in these areas.

Answer 2

Wherever Buddhism took hold, yes.

Answer 3

Well, I can say this:  eating meat is often considered hedonistic, so some followers of the religions there don't (and didn't in the past) eat meat for that reason.